All wheel drive power buggy

ABSTRACT

A motorized dump-type vehicle is provided having a chassis frame, an engine mounted on said frame, a dump container pivotally mounted on the front of said frame and a hydraulic system enabling said container to be raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder and said vehicle to be driven in either forward or reverse directions using its front wheels. Additionally, as needed, the vehicle can be switched into all-wheel-drive by hydraulically driving the vehicle&#39;s rear wheel(s) which are by default undriven.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.09/503,667, filed Feb. 14, 2000, entitled “All Wheel Drive Power Buggy.”This divisional application is the result of a restriction requirementfiled by the Examiner on Mar. 5, 2001. This application contains claimsdirected towards “Invention I. Claims 1, 9 and 10, drawn to a dumpvehicle with dump container, classified in Class 298, Subclass 1C” asclassified by the Examiner in the Mar. 5, 2001 restriction requirement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to motorized vehicles,and more particularly to concrete power buggies.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,264, the teachings of whichare hereby incorporated by reference, concrete construction and otherwork requiring on-the-job transport of heavy materials from one locationto another has brought about the development of a variety ofrelatively-small, load-carrying vehicles capable of moving on the jobsite with relatively small but often very heavy loads of material. Forexample, a frequent need is to load a quantity of concrete at a firstlocation, transport such concrete to a second location and then dump thecontents for spreading and screeding operations at the second location.

[0006] In concrete work, such a vehicle is often referred to as a“concrete buggy.” Such vehicles may also be referred to as a dump truckor power-driven wheelbarrow. Some of such vehicles are of thewalk-behind type while others are of the step or seat-riding type. Theload which is carried by a container called a “skip,” “hopper,” “pan,”or “dump box” is conventionally raised and lowered by a hydraulic pistonas in U.S. Pat. No. 2,424,670 or 2,427,132. A front pair of single ordual wheels is conventionally driven by a differential and transmissionas in U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,132.

[0007] Other vehicles have trinary wheel means wherein two separatefront wheel means each having single or dual wheels proceed a solitarysingle or dual rear wheeled means. Typically, the solitary wheeled meanssupports the rear of the vehicle and is adapted for rotating around avertical axis for the purpose of steering the vehicle and sometimes withuse of a steering mechanism as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,132, while thefront wheel means supports the front of the vehicle. The trinary-typevehicle is also shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,986,387 and Re. 333,131.

[0008] Other patents describe vehicles with trinary wheel means having apowered solitary rear wheel means, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,674,328(Searls), 2,820,524 (Bear), 2,942,677 (Gray), and 3,826,326 (Blair).

[0009] However, none of these patents describe a motorized dump-typevehicle having powered front wheels and the ability to engage thevehicle's rear wheel(s) when needed for added traction or control.

[0010] A concrete buggy which is filled with concrete tends to have acenter of gravity shifted towards the center of the vehicle, towards thefront wheels of the buggy. After the buggy dumps its load of concrete,this center of gravity shifts rearward, towards the rear wheel(s) andengine of the buggy. This shift of the center of gravity leaves thefront end light, occasionally causing problems in getting traction withthe front wheels, particularly where the soil is wet, loose or sandy.

[0011] It is one object of the present invention to provide a motorizeddump-type vehicle for on-the-job transporting of concrete or othermaterials, the vehicle having at least two powered front wheels and theability to power at least one rear wheel for added traction and control,as needed.

[0012] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of theinvention will be set forth in part in the description as follows, andin part will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponexamination of the following, or may be learned by practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention is a motorized dump-type vehicle foron-the-job transporting of concrete or other materials. The preferredembodiment of the present invention has a chassis frame having front andrear ends, and left and right sides. An engine is mounted near the rearend of the frame.

[0014] At least one front hydraulic drive means is secured to the frame,preferably near the front end of the frame. The vehicle has a left wheelmeans located on the left side of the frame front end. This left wheelmeans is drivingly connected to at least one front hydraulic drive meansthereby enabling the left wheel to be driven. The vehicle also has aright wheel means located on the right side of the frame front end. Theright wheel means is drivingly connected to at least one front hydraulicdrive means thereby enabling the right wheel means to be driven.

[0015] The vehicle has an attached open top dump container. Thiscontainer is preferably supported on the frame and has a bottom frontend portion which is pivotally mounted on the front end of the frame.The vehicle has at least one hydraulic piston/cylinder having one endpivotally mounted on the frame and the opposite end pivotally connectedto the container thereby enabling the rear end of the container to beraised and lowered.

[0016] The vehicle further has at least one rear hydraulic drive meanssecured to the frame, preferably at the rear end of the frame. At leastone rear wheel means is preferably mounted below and centrally of therear end of the frame, thereby enabling the rear wheel means to swivelabout a vertical axis for steering the vehicle. The rear wheel means isdrivingly connected to the rear hydraulic drive means thereby enablingthe rear wheel means to be driven.

[0017] The vehicle further has a hydraulic fluid tank. This tank has aninput connection for receiving and storing hydraulic fluid and an outputconnection for withdrawing fluid to be pumped. An adjustable oil pump isadditionally mounted on the vehicle frame and drivingly connected tosaid engine, this pump having a pump input connection to the outputconnection of the tank and a pump output connection.

[0018] Finally, the vehicle further has a hydraulic valve and conduitsystem connected between the pump output connection and the tank inputconnection including a first lever-controlled valve connected by conduitto the piston/cylinder for raising and lowering the container, secondlever-controlled valve connected by conduit to the front hydraulic drivemeans for forward and reverse driving of the left and right wheels, anda third lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to the rearhydraulic drive means for engaging or disengaging the rear wheel means.

[0019] Still other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description wherein I have shown and described only thepreferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration ofthe best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will berealized, the invention is capable of modification in various obviousrespects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regardedas illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective, environmental view of one embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a hydraulicsystem for use in the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a hydraulicsystem for use in the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 4. is a flow chart diagram of another embodiment of ahydraulic system for use in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof havebeen shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the claims.

[0025] Making reference initially to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention vehicle 10 comprises a motorized dump-type vehiclefor on-the-job transporting of concrete or other materials, wherein thevehicle 10 can transport and dump concrete in a form 2, for instance.The vehicle 10 has a chassis frame 12 defining a front end 14, a rearend 16, a left side 18 and a right side 20 (not shown). Mounted at therear end 16 of the chassis frame 12 is an engine, preferably a gasolinepowered engine which may or may not be enclosed in a housing 23.

[0026] Pivotally mounted at the front end 14 of the chassis frame 12 isan open top dump container 30. This pivot is located at the bottom frontend 32 of the open top dump container 30. The rear end 36 of this opentop dump container 30 can be raised and lowered by a hydraulicpiston/cylinder (not shown) to the open top dump container 30, therebyallowing the open top dump container 30 to be dumped.

[0027] The vehicle 10 has a left wheel means 26 extending from the leftside 18 of the front end 14 of the chassis frame 12. This left wheelmeans 26 is for contacting a ground surface. This left wheel means 26may comprise one or more rubber tires, with the preferred embodimentshown in FIG. 1 showing a pair of wheels with tires.

[0028] The vehicle 10 has a right wheel means 28 extending from theright side 20 of the front end 14 of the chassis frame 12. This rightwheel means 28 is for contacting a ground surface. This right wheelmeans 28 may comprise one or more rubber tires, with the preferredembodiment shown in FIG. 1 showing a pair of wheels with tires.

[0029] The vehicle 10 further has at least one front hydraulic drivemeans 24 (shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4) secured to the chassis frame 12.This hydraulic drive means 24 drivingly connects to the wheel means 26,28 thereby enabling the wheel means 26, 28 to be driven. In thepreferred embodiment, a pair of hydraulic drive means 24, 38 are used,with the first hydraulic drive means 24 driving the left wheel means 26,and with the second hydraulic drive means 38 driving the right wheelmeans 28. The preferred first and second hydraulic drive means 24, 38are hydraulic motors. The drive means 24, 38 are preferably controlledby control or directional valves.

[0030] The vehicle 10 has at least one rear wheel means 40 which ismounted below and preferably centrally of the rear end 16 of the chassisframe 12. This rear wheel means 40 is mounted on a pivotal support meanswhich enables the rear wheel means 40 to swivel about a vertical axiswhich passes through the support means for steering the vehicle 10. Thisarrangement is standard for concrete buggies and allows the vehicle'soperator to steer the vehicle 10 by use of a handlebar 76 or othersteering device by swiveling the rear wheel means 40 on its verticalaxis to change the direction of travel of vehicle 10. In the preferredembodiment, the rear wheel means 40 is a single wheel means comprisingpair of wheels with tires, however also envisioned with the use of twoseparate wheel means in lieu of a single wheel means.

[0031] The rear wheel means 40 could be a pair of wheels located at thecorners of the rear portion of the frame, a single wheel in the centerof the rear of the frame, a pair of wheels at the center of the frame orany configuration in which the rear wheels (remote from the dumping end)are the steering wheels.

[0032] The vehicle 10 further comprises a rear or third hydraulic drivemeans 41 (shown in FIGS. 2-4) secured to the chassis frame 12. Thishydraulic drive means 41 drivingly connects to the rear wheel means 40thereby enabling the rear wheel means 40 to be driven. The preferredthird hydraulic drive means 41 is a hydraulic motor. The drive means 41is preferably controlled by valve through use of a control lever.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the invented vehicle. In thisembodiment, hydraulic fluid is stored in a hydraulic tank 42. Thishydraulic fluid is supplied to a charge pump 48 through a tank outputconnection 44. From the charge pump 48, fluid is supplied to the firstcontrol or directional valve 64, and to the pump 46 after passingthrough a pressure relief valve 92. The pump 46 is preferably powered byits connection with the engine of the vehicle.

[0034] The preferred first control valve 64 is a three position, fourway valve for controlling the hydraulic piston/cylinder 34 and therebymoving the open top dump container 30 from into and out of the dumpingposition. The hydraulic piston/cylinder 34 drains back through the firstcontrol valve 64, through a filter 88 and into the pump 46.

[0035] The pump 46 is able to drain back into the hydraulic tank 42through the tank input connection 43.

[0036] From the pump 46 extend pressure and drain lines 99 jointlyreferred to as “conduit.” This conduit 99 passes through the seconddirectional (control) valve 68. This valve 68 is a three position, fourway valve for controlling the operation of the hydraulic drive means 24,38, 41. The three positions of the valve 68 allow the drive means 24,38, 41 to be driven forward and in reverse and have a neutral positionas well.

[0037]FIG. 2 shows the first hydraulic drive means 24 operated in serieswith the second hydraulic drive means 38, whereas FIG. 3 shows the firsthydraulic drive means 24 operated in parallel with the second hydraulicdrive means 38. While a first and second drive means 24, 38 are shown,it would also be possible to utilize a single drive means in lieuthereof the preferred pair.

[0038] Referring again to FIG. 2, a third directional (control) valve 72is placed inline between the second directional valve 68 and the thirdhydraulic drive means 41. This directional valve 72 is a two position,four way valve allowing the third drive means 41 to be engaged anddisengaged. Thus, when the third drive means 41 is engaged, the thirddrive means 41 will drive the rear wheel means 40 in the same directionthat the first and second drive means 24, 38 drive the left and rightwheel means 26, 28. Thus, the vehicle is able to be used in “two-wheeldrive” mode (when the left and right wheel means are driven) and in“all-wheel drive” mode (where all wheel means are driven). It isenvisioned that the operator will be able to place the device infull-time all-wheel drive mode, as well as having the ability tomomentarily switch into all-wheel drive for reasons of traction control,for instance where the front end of the vehicle becomes stuck in loosesoil next to a concrete form.

[0039] Additionally, individual flow control valves (or a pressurecompensating flow divider) 96 may be placed inline to control flow tothe drive means 24, 38, 41.

[0040]FIG. 3 shows the same general hydraulic system 80 of FIG. 2,except that the front hydraulic drive means 24, 38 are placed inparallel rather than in series.

[0041]FIG. 4 shows a general overview of another embodiment of thepresent invention in a flowchart form. In this Figure, conduit 99 isintended to contain pressure and return lines, as needed. The figureshows a hydraulic tank 42 connecting through conduit 99 to the hydraulicpump 46. This pump 46 is powered by an engine (not shown). The pump 46supplies via conduit 99 a first control valve 64 which operates ahydraulic piston/cylinder 34 for use in dumping the vehicle's dump tub.The pump 46 also connects via conduit 99 to a second control valve 68which controls forward, reverse and neutral locomotion of the hydraulicdrive means 24, 38, 41. Additionally, a third control valve 72 is placedin between the second control valve 72 and the third hydraulic drivemeans 41. This third valve 72 allows the vehicle 10 to optionally havethe third hydraulic drive means 41 driven when the second control valve68 is driving the first and second hydraulic drive means 24, 38.

[0042] As in similar prior art devices, the vehicle 10 readily adapts towalk-behind-type vehicles, riding-step-type vehicles, andseat-riding-type vehicles.

[0043] While there is shown and described the present preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that thisinvention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied topractice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoingdescription, it will be apparent that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A motorized dump-type vehicle for on-the-job transporting of concrete or other materials, comprising: a chassis frame having front and rear ends, and left and right sides thereof; an engine mounted near the rear end of said frame; a front hydraulic drive means secured to said frame; a left wheel means located on said left side of said frame front end, wherein said left wheel means is drivingly connected to said front hydraulic drive means thereby enabling said left wheel means to be driven; a right wheel means located on said right side of said frame front end, wherein said right wheel means is drivingly connected to said front hydraulic drive means thereby enabling said right wheel means to be driven; an open top dump container, said container being supported on said frame and having a bottom front end portion pivotally mounted on the front end of said frame; at least one hydraulic piston/cylinder having one end pivotally mounted on said frame and the opposite end pivotally connected to said container thereof enabling the rear end of said container to be raised and lowered; a rear hydraulic drive means secured to said frame; at least one rear wheel means mounted below and centrally of the rear end of said frame enabling said rear wheel means to swivel about a vertical axis for steering said vehicle, wherein said rear wheel means is drivingly connected to said rear hydraulic drive means thereby enabling said rear wheel means to be driven; a hydraulic fluid tank secured to said vehicle, said tank having an input connection for receiving and storing hydraulic fluid and an output connection for withdrawing fluid to be pumped; an adjustable oil pump mounted on said vehicle, said pump having a pump input connection to the output connection of said tank and a pump output connection; and a hydraulic valve and conduit system connected between said pump output connection and said tank input connection including a first lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said piston/cylinder for raising and lowering said container, second lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said front hydraulic drive means for forward and reverse driving of said left and right wheels, and a third lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said rear hydraulic drive means for engaging or disengaging said rear wheel means.
 2. A motorized dump-type vehicle for transporting of concrete or other construction materials, comprising: (a) a chassis frame having integrally-joined side, front and rear members defining front and rear ends, and left and right sides thereof; (b) an engine mounted near said rear end of said chassis frame; (c) first and second hydraulic drive motors secured to said frame; (d) a left ground-engaging wheel located on said left side of said frame front end, wherein said left wheel is drivingly connected to said first hydraulic drive motor thereby enabling said left wheel to be driven; (e) a right ground-engaging wheel located on said right side of said frame front end, wherein said right wheel is drivingly connected to said second hydraulic drive motor thereby enabling said right wheel to be driven; (f) a dump container, said container being supported on said frame forwardly of said engine and having a bottom front end portion pivotally mounted on said front end of said frame; (g) at least one hydraulic piston/cylinder having one end pivotally mounted on said frame and the opposite end pivotally connected to said container thereof enabling a rear end of said container to be pivoted; (h) at least one third hydraulic drive motor secured to said frame near said rear end; (i) at least one rear ground-engaging wheel means located near said rear end of said frame on support means enabling said rear wheel means to swivel about a vertical axis passing through said support means for steering said vehicle, wherein said rear wheel means is drivingly connected to said third hydraulic drive motor thereby enabling said rear wheel means to be driven; (j) a hydraulic fluid tank secured to said frame, said tank having an input connection for receiving and storing hydraulic fluid and an output connection for withdrawing fluid to be pumped; (k) a hydraulic fluid pump mounted on said frame and drivingly connected to said engine, said pump having a pump input connection to the output connection of said tank and a pump output connection; and (l) a hydraulic valve and conduit system connected between said pump output connection and said tank input connection including a first lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said piston/cylinder for raising and lowering said container, second lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said hydraulic drive motor means for forward and reverse driving of said left and right wheels, and a third lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said rear wheel means for engaging or disengaging said rear wheel.
 3. A motorized dump-type vehicle for transporting concrete or other materials, comprising: a chassis frame having a front end and a rear end, and left and right sides thereof; an engine mounted near said rear end of said frame; a hydraulic drive means secured to said frame; a left wheel means located on said left side of said frame front end, wherein said left wheel means is drivingly connected to said front hydraulic drive means thereby enabling said left wheel means to be driven; a right wheel means located on said right side of said frame front end, wherein said right wheel means is drivingly connected to said front hydraulic drive means thereby enabling said right wheel means to be driven; a dump container, said dump container being supported on said chassis frame and having a bottom front end portion pivotally mounted on the front end of said frame; at least one hydraulic piston/cylinder having one end pivotally mounted on said frame and an opposite end pivotally connected to said dump container, enabling said rear end of said dump container to be pivoted about said bottom front end portion of said dump container; at least one rear wheel means mounted below and centrally of said rear end of said frame, enabling said rear wheel means to swivel about a vertical axis for steering said vehicle, wherein said rear wheel means is drivingly connected to said hydraulic drive means, thereby enabling said rear wheel means to be driven; a hydraulic fluid tank secured to said vehicle, said tank having an input connection for receiving and storing hydraulic fluid and an output connection for withdrawing fluid to be pumped by said hydraulic drive means; an adjustable oil pump mounted on said vehicle, said pump having a pump input connection to the output connection of said tank and a pump output connection; and a hydraulic valve and conduit system connected between said pump output connection and said tank input connection including a first lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said piston/cylinder for raising and lowering said container, second lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said front hydraulic drive means for forward and reverse driving of said left and right wheels, and a third lever-controlled valve connected by conduit to said rear hydraulic drive means for engaging or disengaging said rear wheel means. 